Simon throws 7 TD passes as Denbigh rips Gloucester 49-13

With chances of a winning season long since dashed, Allen Simon wanted he and his fellow Denbigh seniors to go out with a bang Saturday afternoon at Todd Stadium.

Boy, did he ever.

Simon, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound quarterback, threw for seven touchdowns and 367 yards as the Patriots cruised to a 49-13 victory over Gloucester and ended a three-game losing skid to close the season.

Simon's touchdown output was the most by a Peninsula football player since Jim Hogan of Newport News High School passed for a Virginia state-record nine touchdown passes against Denbigh in 1966.

"I can hardly believe it myself," Simon said. "We were worked pretty hard in practice this week, and we just executed plays like I knew we could execute. And the (offensive) line added solid protection."

Simon said there was no way he and the Patriots (4-6, 3-6 Peninsula District) were going out with a loss.

"We were ready," said Simon, who said he's received interest from Marshall, Old Dominion and Temple, among other Division I colleges. "We wanted to win this game simply because it was our last game as a Patriot."

Many were in awe of Simon's performance on Saturday, but Denbigh coach Marcellus Harris wasn't one of them. He knew what Simon was capable of, but he credited the Patriots receivers – most of them juniors – for holding up their end of the deal.

"He's been great throughout the course of the year," Harris said. "It's just that today the guys made the catches that they hadn't made all year long."

Senior Tevin Platteborze led all Denbigh receivers with 141 yards and had three touchdowns on Saturday. Junior tight end Paul Gostomski also had three TD catches and 73 yards. Five-foot-7 senior receiver Brandon Leggett caught a 54-yard bomb from Simon in Denbigh's second play from scrimmage to open the second half.

Denbigh had a shaky start, as Dukes defensive back Mark Greenauer intercepted Paul Gostomski's trick pass play on the Patriots' first play from scrimmage. Gloucester running back Shamar Marsh then shocked the Patriots' defense with a well-blocked, off-tackle 70-yard run to put the Dukes on the scoreboard first. J.B. Bennett added a 31-yard touchdown run to give the Dukes a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

However, Denbigh's defense shored up soon after, and Gloucester (2-8, 1-8 PD) only got inside the Patriots' 20 once more after halftime.

Harris said his main goal for next season is to see Denbigh to a winning record, which would be its first since 2006, but he knows it's a very steep climb out of the south end of the Peninsula District standings.

"I've been preaching to the guys, it's all about gaining respect," said Harris, at 32 the youngest head coach in the PD. "I'm glad the seniors went out with a win, but we're still fighting to gain respect. We're taking it one step at a time."